Feeler device for looms



March 2, 1943. E. c. ALlx FEELER DEVICE FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-.Sheet l Filed July 2, 1941 INVENTOR n March 2, 1943. E. C. ALlx FEELER DEVICE Fon Looms Filed July 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Ov /m :t: wv

OW m. @N mm, em M m, QQ. I Fi133? L E# M llil N@ Y om K O. NN m E N @N mw @NNN N bm, N @Nm Om, m .ma *s m. E o v 7 O. n. w\@\ TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 2, 1943 2,312,515 FEELER DEVICE Foa LooMs Elmer C. Alix, Charlton City, Mass., assigno-r to Charlton Woolen Company, Charlton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 2, 1941, Serial No. 400,818

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric feeler device for use with looms of an automatic bobbin changing type which is of such a nature as to insure a, more accurate and timely function of the bobbin changing mechanism during the peration of the loom whereby when the filling upon the bobbin in the shuttle becomes substantially exhausted the bobbin changing or replenishing mechanism will be operated automatically to replace the exhausted bobbin with another having a full supply of filling thereon.

Another object is to provide a novel feeler device which will more positively control or time the ejection of the bobbin in the shuttle from which the lling has been spent during the weaving operation whereby a controlled minimum amount of filling will be permitted to remain on the bobbin when it is ejected from the shuttle thereby decreasing considerably the wastage of filling.

Another object is to provide an electric type feeler of the above character which has a plurality of feeler contacts arranged in cooperatively functioning groups which, when said feeler contacts engage the bobbin from which the filling is being spent, will more positively insure contact with a circuit closing member on said bobbin only when a desired minimum amount of filling remains on the bobbin with said minimum amount being suiiicient to permit the shuttle to take two picks prior to the ejection of the bobbin.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of feeler of the above character which not only will reduce the wastage of filling normally remaining on the ejected bobbin but which will insure other associated working parts against undue wear and damage.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the feeler device and a portion of the associated parts of the operating mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partial sectional view illustrating the function of the feeler contacts with the circuit closingl portion of the bobbin;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the feeler contact supporting end of the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the feeler device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing parts of the feeler contact mechanism disunited;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 8 8 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

The idea of using electric feelers having feeler contacts for engaging a metallic sleeve on a bobbin to close a circuit to a solenoid which, in turn, causes the standard bobbin ejection and bobbin replacement mechanism of -an automatic loom to function is not new in the art. Such feeler devices, particularly those of the type which function cooperatively with a metallic sleeve on the bobbin, in most instances in the past, embodied only two separately functioning feeler contacts, which had to both engage the metal sleeve of the bobbin in order to function. In many instances such feeler devices either had a pointed contacting end which would tend to cut through the filling and make contact with the metal sleeve through the filling sooner than desired and, in other instances, such contacting members had a wide area contacting end which did not always make contact with the metal sleeve as soon as desired thereby causing too much yarn to be spent from the bobbin prior to bringing the ejecting and bobbin replacing mechanism into play. In the latter instance, if a piece of lint or the like adhered to the point of one of the feelers so as to break the contact of the feeler with the metal sleeve the device would fail to function. This is because both contacts in all instances had to make contact with the metallic sleeve in order to insure the energizing of the solenoid.

It has been found from past experience that it is this particular part of the feeler which introduced most of the difficulties with devices of this nature. It, therefore, is one of the prime objects of this invention to overcome the above defects through the provision of a plurality of feeler contacts arranged in separately functioning groups and so dimensioned and positioned relative to each other as to insure more positive function and timing of the ejection and bobbin replacing mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the device comprises broadly a plurality of resiliently supported feeler pins I0 arranged in two separately functioning sets designated, Fig. 4, as Illa and IDb. The set of feeler contacts Ia will, for ease of description, be referred to hereinafter as the plus contacts and the feeler contacts or pins IIJb will be referred to as the minus contacts. The feeler contacts or pins Illa and Ib respectively form separate circuit closing means adapted to engage a metallic contact sleeve I I carried by Veach respective bobbin I2. The contact pins lila and Ib are yieldingly supported in a carrier I3 which, in turn, is slidably supported in a tubular member I4. The carrier I3 comprises a detacha-ble end embodying a tubular casing I5 having a bearing member I5 adjacent the outer end thereof formed of a suitable insulation material and an opposed bearing member I'I formed of similar insulation material. The feeler contacts or pins I0 are slidably supported in said spaced bearings I6 and' II Aout of engagement with the casing I5. The said Y l5 bearing members I8 and II have reduced'ends I8 and I9 respectively iitting internally of the `opening 29 so that the said rod is free to slide through said opening when the said member 24 is moved longitudinally of the bearing I4. The end l 43 of the connecting rod 32 adjacent the support 45 is threaded and is adapted to receive a collar "44 Yhaving an annular groove therein fitting over casing I5 and are held therein bymeans of a tie rod having ends 2I and 22 secured ina threaded bore formed in the respective bearing members as illustrated in Fig. 6. The bearing member I1, on the side thereoffopposite the reduced portion I9, has ja reduced extension 23 fitting internally of a relatively long tubular member 24 slidably supported in the bearing I4. The Areduced portion 23 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal bores 25 in which are slidably supported enlarged stop members 26 carried by the respective pin members I0. Suitable coil springs -2`I positioned within each of the bores 25 are adapted to i-lt over the ends28 of the pin members I4 lying within the respective bores. The said spring members 21 are adapted'toengage the stop members 26 adjacent `one end thereof and to engage spaced metallic contact plates 29 and 3E adjacent the opposite ends thereof.l The1 spaced contacting plates 249 and 30 'are' carried by a suitable annular support'SIof insulation ma- 'terial slidably mounted on a 'connecting rod '32.

The connecting rod 32 has a threadedend 33 adapted to be threaded internally'of a threaded bore 34 formed in the reduced portion 23. The contact plate 29 has a protrusio-ri 35 on the side Vsurface thereof adapted to"eXtendwithi n one of the bores 25 so as tofalign'the group of contacts or pins Y group of contacts or pins Ib with'the other of said plates as illustrated by the dash lines in Fig. 4.

A s-uitable'nut or the like 3.6 is adapted to urge the contact plates 29 and 30 into engagement` with the adjacent end of the reduced portion 23 to hold the coilspringsor thejlike '21' internally of the bores 25 and to cause' said resilient members to constantly tend tourge 'the -pin members I0 outwardly of the bearing 15. vThe plate 35 is provided Vwith a metallic -pin '3l which extends through vthe annular support of `insulation `material 3I and 'which isiadapted tojmake contact with the nut '36. The plate 23 Vhasj a blade spring or the like "38 secured 'thereto and adaptedto engage the inner wall of the :tubular member 24 between the annularsupport of 'insulation material 3| and said tubular member 24.

The resilient member 38 is adapted toclose a circuit between the plate 29 and the inner wall with-rhetubular bearing 14. The'end of thefff Ia with one o'f said plates and the' The said connecting 'rod 32" 'noidcoil opposite the connected end 5I. llead wire extends toa pole of a suitable source of electrical energy and the'opposite pole of said the adjacent end of the tubular member 24. The

collar 44 is held in position on the adjacent end of the tubular Vmember 24 by a nut or the like 45 threaded on the end 43. A suitable cap mem- 'ber of insulation material 45 is also threaded on said end 43 and is adapted to overlie the nut 44 to provide an insulation shield for said nut.

lThe connecting rod 32 internally of the tubular member 24 has a. coil spring 41 thereon engaging the nut 35 adjacent one end thereof and adapted to engage av plate 48 of metallic material adjacent the other end. The plate has an opening aligned with the opening 3 9 through which 'the connecting rod 3-2 slides when the tubular member 24Yis moved longitudinally of the bearing I4. The coil spring 4'I is adapted to constantly urge the tubular member 24 in a direction toward the feeler contacts or pins I3. The plate 48 extends downwardly substantially parallel with the support 44 oi insulation material and is spaced from the base-4I by a U-shaped member `49 of insulation material within an adjacent groove in the base 4I. A lead wire or the like 50 is secured to said plate48'between the support of insulation material 40 and said plate, see Fig. 9. The lead wire 5l] is connected, as illustrated at 5I, to a solenoid 52, that is, the said lead wire has a suitable vconnection5l with one end of the coil of the s olenoid'52, in a conventional manner.

A suitable lead wiref53 is connected to the sole- This electrical energy is grounded to the loom or may be Vgrounded with the base 4I as desired. If Y vgrounded to the loom a suitable connection screw 54, 'which' attaches the feeler member to the feeler stand( 55, which is a conventional 'part of lthejloom, functions toground the base 4I With said loom.l The screw member A5 4 'also provides a pivot support for the feeler memberon which -it 'may "be swung'to raise for lower the "conta'cts I0.

It is to be understood that thejmetallicplate 48 is so dimensioned as -to not engage the side walls of the slot 42 in'the member V24.' It is lalso to be understood thatthe diameter ofthe spring'41 issuch that it is space djrelativefto the inner side walls of the tubular member.'24. By this it is meantthat the plate 48and'the Aspring 4`I do not have 'electrical contact with "the tubular'member 24.

v"Asbest seen in Figs. 1 2'th'e'bearing I4 has a projection'56 on onesidef'thereof. This projection 56 adapted toV rest on'an adjustment screw 51 Whichhfunctions as Van"adjustable stop 'to limit the downward movement'of the feeler and of the end of the feelerjmemberliaving'the feeler contacts or pins I0 therein. vAis'uitable coil spring orthe like 5 8 tends to constantlyurgefthe projection 56 into engagement with'the contact screw 57. The coil spring 58 is attached to'an eyelet or the like 59 formed on the bearing I4.

Protruding outwardly of the side of the tubular member 24, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 is a bracket member 60 adapted to engage a standard operating part of the loom to retract the tubular member 24 and carrier member I3 during the automatic operation of interchanging the bobbins so that the feeler contacts or pins I will not engage the bobbin being ejected or the new bobbin being placed in the shuttle when the bobbins are being interchanged. 'I'he part engaged by the bracket member 60 is not illustrated as it is a conventional part of the standard automatic ejecting mechanism of looms of the type with which such feelers are used.

The complete assembly described above, including the feeler contacts I0, carrier member I3, tubular member 24, bearing I2, base block 4I and solenoid 52, etc., which will be hereinafter referred to as the feeler assembly and which is attached by means of the connection screw 54 to the feeler stand of the loom is adapted to be positioned so as to be engaged by the bobbin when the conventional lay of the loom is moved back and forth in the process of weaving.

When a substantial amount of lling 6I is on the bobbin the feeler contacts or pins Illa and Illb are prevented from engaging the metallic sleeve I I by said filling. However, when the lling has been spent su'ciently from the bobbin by repetitive movement of the shuttle back and forth across the lay of the loom, as is usual in the weaving operation, and only a small amount of said filling remains over the metallic sleeve I I the intermittent movement of the bobbin into engagement with the feeler contacts or pins Illa and Ib will eventually permit some of the feeler contacts of said groups to engage said metallic sleeve, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This closes a circuit through said feeler contacts or pins Ia and Ib and is adapted to energize the solenoid 52. This causes the solenoid core or plunger 62 to be forced into engagement with the arm 63. The arm 63 is a conventional part of the ejecting mechanism of looms of the character described and is adapted to operate the automatic bobbin ejecting mechanism of such looms in the conventional manner. The circuit from the ends of the feeler members Illa. to the solenoid is as follows:

'I'he feeler members or pins Ia having the stops 26 thereon engaged by the coil spring 21 causes the electrical energy to ow through said pin members, through the coil springs 21 and from said coil springs 21 to the plate 30. The plate 39 being connected by the pin 31 to the nut 36 causes the circuit to flow through said pin 31 and through the nut 26 to the connecting rod 32. The coil spring 41, which engages the nut 3B, also permits the electrical energy to ow therethrough to the plate 48 which is also engaged by the coil spring 41. The plate 38 being connected to the lead wire 50 closes the said circuit through said lead wire to one end of the coil of the solenoid 52. The opposite end of the coil of the solenoid being connected by the lead wire 53 to one pole of the source of electrical energy thereby closes the circuit to said source of electrical energy. The feeler contacts or pins Illb which are similarly engaged by the coil springs 21 close the circuit through said coil springs 21 through the plate 29. The plate 29 through the blade spring 38, which engages the inner wall of the metallic tubular member 24,

closes the circuit through said tubular member to the bearing I4 and base 4I which is grounded and thereby connected to the opposite pole of the original source of electrical energy. When the metallic sleeve I I is engaged by at least one of each of the groups of feeler contacts Ilia and Ib the circuit through the feeler member to the solenoid is thereby closed. This only occurs when a sufcient amount of the filling has been removed from the bobbin to expose a portion of the metallic sleeve II for engagement by at least one of each of the groups of feeler members Illa. and |017. The feeler members are so grouped and designed as to insure that a sufficient amount of filling will remain on the bobbin to permit the bobbin to travel across the lay and back into the shuttle box from which it is to be nally ejected and replaced by another bobbin having the desired initial amount of filling thereon.

'Ihe purpose of the adjustment screw 51 and associated parts is to initially position the feeler contacts in proper alignment with the bobbin for engagement with the metallic sleeve II of said bobbin when the desired amount of lling has been spent therefrom.

One of the essential features of applicants invention is the provision of a plurality of feeler contacts or pins Illa and b arranged in groups electrically engaging the respective plates 29 and 30 and so spaced relative to each other as to insure that at least one of the feeler members or ends of each of said groups will simultaneously come in contact with the metallic sleeve I I of the bobbin when a suiiicient amount of lling has been spent therefrom to warrant the final travel of the bobbin across the lay and back for replacement by a fresh bobbin having lling thereon.

From the foregoing description vit will be seen that simple, eicient and positively functioning electrical feeler means has been provided for bringing about the proper operation of the standard bobbin ejecting and replacement mechanism of looms of the character described.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric feeler device for looms comprising a base having a slideway therein, a tubular member slidably supported in said base, resilient means for constantly urging said tubular member longitudinally of the slideway in a direction away from said base, a member carried by said tubular member for limiting its longitudinal movement, bearing means secured to and insulated from the end of said tubular member opposite the base and a plurality of electric feeler contacts yieldingly supported in said bearing means, said feeler contacts comprising two separate groups of opposite polarity.

2. An electric feeler device for looms comprising a base having a tubular member slidably supported therein, said tubular member having a longitudinally slotted wall portion, a contact member on said base extending inwardly of said slot, resilient means engaging said contact member internally of said tubular member for constantly urging said tubular member longitudinally in a direction away from said contact member, means for limiting said movement, bearing means on the tubular member and insulated from the end of said tubular member opposite the base, a plurality of feeler members slidably mounted in said bearing means, said feeler members comprising two separate groups of opposite polarity, resilient means yieldingly urging said feeler members in a direction outwardly of said bearing means, spaced contact plates supported adjacent the inner end of said .bearing means each engaged by the respective resilient means of Veach ofsaid groups of said ieeler Amernibers"'for'urging' vsaid feeler members in a direction outwardly'ofsaid ybearing means, one of said platesbeing electrically engaged bythe rst mentioned resilient'means for urging the .tubular member vin Aa 'dire'ction .away from said first mentioned Contact .member''and the other of saidplate-like members havingmeans thereon for electrically 'engaging the inner wall of the tubular member.

3. An electric feelerdevice for'l'ooms comprising a base having a slideway therein, a member slidably mounted in said slideway, resilient means for urging said member in adirection outwardly lof said slideway, means for 'limiting said movement, bearing means on saidV slidable member'and insulated from the end of said slidable member opposite the base, said bearing means `having spaced plate-like portions carried thereby and insulated from each other, one of Vsaid plates havingr electrical Contact with said resilientmeans and the other havingelectrical contactvvith 4said slidable member, a plurality of contacts slidably supported in said bearing means, said'contacts being separated into two groups, resilient means associated Vwith each of the contacts of said groups, said resilient means of one of said groups having electrical Contact with one of said plates and the resilient means of the other of saidA groups having electrical contact with the other of said plates thereby producing two separate groupsof opposite polarity.

4. An electric feeler device for looms comprising a base having amember slidable therein, resilient means for urging the said member in a direction s outwardly of said base, means for limiting said movement, bearing means of insulation material on the end of said slidable member opposite the base, said bearing means having spaced plate-like portions carried thereby, one of which has an electrical contact with said resilient means Aand the other having electrical contact with said slidable member, a plurality of contacts slidably supported in said bearing means, said contacts being separated into two groups, resilient means asso-- ciated with each of the contacts of said groups, said resilient means of one of said groups having electrical contact with one of said plates and the resilient means of the other of said groups having electrical contact with the other of said plates thereby producing two separate groups of opposite polarity, a solenoid "supported 1by' said base, means carried'rby said'baseihaving electricalzicontact with Vthe solenidan'd withpneoffsaid .plates through the rst'j resilient =means; and' `,said sole- ,noidhavin'gan' electricalcpntact withfafsource of electricalienergy which, in" turn,has an electrical ic'ontact with the .other of --said `plates-through the slidable rmember.

5. 'Anfelectriczeelr :device for ylooms comprising .a' base, a' memberslidablysupported iinsaidzbase, resilient means 'for 'urging fsaid member in :aidirection outwardly lof saidbase', bea'ring means Aof vinsulation materialonftheffouter end offsaid slidably supported member opposite the base, said bearing means having. a plurality o'f feeler `contacts slidablymounted .therein and divided into two separate groups, agpair :ofspaced plate-'like .members carried by said rbearing means `andiresilien't means for urging "said '.feeler contactsoutvwardly of said 'bearing means, the resilientlneans of 'each'of one ofsaid .groups .ofieeler .contacts being `in engagement withon'eof fsaidplate-like members .and theresilient means of eachzo'rzthe other' of said l groups or feeler contacts `being .in engagement: with .the 'z'other'V of fsaid. .plate-like members, fa`,so'l'enoid,` 'one;oftsaid;plate-flike members Shaving' an electrical contact with said'solenoid a'nd the .othernof said .plate-like members having? an electrical Ycontactwith:asourceofxelectrical venergy which," in turngh'asan electrical. contact with saidsolen'oid. Y

6. An' electric feelerfdeviceforuse :in asolenoid circuit` functioningin Vcombination l.with Ybobbin removing and replacingfme'chanismfand bobbins -each 'having .a metallic:sleeve` thereon', said' feeler device comprisingra:basehavingfaislideway' therev-in, a tubular member'slidably :supported in :said

base, resilient means forconstantly lurging. said tubular member longitudinally'ofthe slidewa'y in `a direction away fr'omsaid .base,..a:member"car ried by` saidA tubular' memberforflimiting'its longitudinal movement, bearing: means securedt'o and ycontacts yieldingly s'upport'ed --irrisaid V:bearing means, said `feeler contacts-comprising two sepa- `rate groups ofbpposite polarity adaptedto'engage with the metallic sleeve ofthebobb'ins 'during the operation'of the device.

EIiMER C. ALIX. 

